British Cycling has today confirmed the five Great Britain Cycling Team riders who will compete at the final round of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Minsk, Belarus, on 19 - 21 January.
Reigning Olympic and world champion Elinor Barker has had a fantastic 2017/18 world cup season to date and will be looking to add to her superb tally of two gold medals and one silver medal in Minsk. Elinor will be joined by her younger sister and fellow female endurance rider Megan Barker.
Chris Latham, who won a brilliant bronze medal in the scratch race at the 2017 world championships, will contest the men’s omnium event.
Completing the line-up are Senior Academy sprinters Lauren Bate and Georgia Hilleard, both of whom make their world cup debut in Minsk.
British Cycling’s head coach Iain Dyer said: “For the final world cup round, we are able to give Lauren and Georgia their first experience of world cup racing which marks an important step in their development.
“Both are in the first year of the Senior Academy and both are 2017 junior world championship medalists, with the duo winning bronze in the team sprint and Lauren winning silver in the sprint. It will be invaluable for them, and also for fellow Senior Academy rider Megan, to be in the same environment as Elinor and Chris and to learn more about race preparation and dealing with the pressure of competing at elite level.
“I’m pleased with how the team has performed throughout the world cups in 2017, both in terms of winning 17 medals but also with the performances and the progress I’ve seen from across the squad. This has put us in a strong position in terms of qualification points for the world championships which are less than two months away, and allows the majority of our riders in contention for selection the chance to focus their training towards this.”
Great Britain Cycling Team for Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Minsk
Elinor Barker
Megan Barker
Lauren Bate
Georgia Hilleard
Chris Latham
British riders will also be competing for Team Wales and Team KGF.
The Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Minsk is the last major event before this month's HSBC UK | National Track Championships, where Great Britain Cycling Team teammates become rivals in a bid to win a prestigious national champion's jerseys.
Don't miss your chance to see the best of British go head-to-head at the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre in Manchester from January 26-28.
